Clipmarks | Iran Clips

Obama said that Iran is not a threat....but he would call for a Muslim Summit

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:03:04 GMT

clipped by: Alexian
clipper's remarks: What a freaking scholar...not!

Hijacked Iranian Ship Was A Dirty Bomb Meant For Israel On Yom Kippur

Hijacked Iranian Ship was a Dirty Bomb Meant for Israel on Yom Kippur

Although American intelligence and government sources are maintaining a strictly observed silence, the same does not apply to the Russians and so it is that we learn the real story of the MV Iran Deyanat. She was an enormous floating dirty bomb, intended to detonate after exiting the Suez Canal at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and in proximity to the coastal cities of Israel. The entire cargo of radioactive sand, obtained by Iran from China (the latter buys desperately needed oil from the former) and sealed in containers which, when the charges on the ship are set off after the crew took to the boats, will be blasted high into the air where prevailing winds will push the highly dangerous and radioactive cloud ashore.

Tags: hoshienu

Afghan fighters switching to Taliban

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:46:45 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "Our soil is occupied by Americans and I want them to leave this country. That is my only goal,"

Clip Source: english.aljazeera.net

After fighting the Taliban for the past seven years, many working for the Afghan security forces are now switching sides.

Sulieman Ameri and his 16 men were until a month ago serving the Afghan government as police patrolling the border with Iran.

Now they answer to the Taliban and their goal is to drive all foreign troops out of Afghanistan.

Ameri, now a Taliban commander, told Al Jazeera that he joined the Taliban because of what he called anti-Muslim behaviour by international soldiers.

"I have seen everything with my own eyes, I have seen prostitution, I have seen them drinking alcohol. We are Muslim and therefore jihad is our obligation," Ameri said in the mountains south of Herat.

"Our soil is occupied by Americans and I want them to leave this country. That is my only goal," he added.

But Ameri and his men are not the only renegade government forces – some 70 police and soldiers have switched allegiances across the western region in the past two months.

Tags: afghanistan, taliban

America Will Remain the Superpower

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:14:58 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: But that only means it had outperformed nearly every single major foreign stock exchange, including Germany's XETRADAX (down 28%) China's Shanghai exchange (down 30%), Japan's NIKK225 (down 37%), Brazil's BOVESPA (down 41%) and Russia RTSI (down 61%). These contrasts are a useful demonstration that America's financial woes are nobody else's gain.

On the other hand, global economic distress doesn't invariably work at cross-purposes with American interests. Hugo Chávez's nosedive toward bankruptcy begins when oil dips below $80 a barrel, the price where it hovers now. An identical logic, if perhaps at a different price, applies to the petrodictatorships in Moscow and Tehran, which already are heavily saddled with inflationary and investor-confidence concerns. Russia will also likely burn through its $550 billion in foreign-currency reserves faster than anticipated -- a pleasing if roundabout comeuppance for last summer's Georgian adventure.

Clip Source: online.wsj.com

When the tide laps at Gulliver's waistline, it usually means the Lilliputians are already 10 feet under.

Constantinople fell to the Ottomans after two centuries of retreat and decline. It took two world wars, a global depression and the onset of the Cold War to lay the British Empire low.

So it's a safe bet that the era of American dominance will not be brought to a close by credit default swaps, mark-to-market accounting or (even) Barney Frank.

Not that there's a shortage of invitations to believe otherwise. Almost in unison, Germany's finance minister, Russia's prime minister and Iran's president predict the end of U.S. "hegemony," financial and/or otherwise. The New York Times weighs in with meditations on "A Power That May Not Stay So Super." Der Spiegel gives us "The End of Hubris." Guardian columnist John Gray sees "A Shattering Moment in America's Fall From Power."

Before yesterday's surge, the Dow had dropped 25% in three months.

Tags: america, financial crunch, global markets, dow, germany, russia, iran

"We The People" Have The Ingenuity & The Resources

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:26:35 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: WE HAVE THE POWER. Today, America is under assault from key oil producing states - some of which are radical regimes whose energy prices and policies are systematically undermining our economy, our national security, and the American way of life. We pay a hefty ransom - two billion dollars every day - to the likes of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela, among other foreign powers. Americans are sick and tired of our broken energy policy.

WE HAVE THE POWER highlights America's need to adopt our World War II mentality of "Do it all, Do it now" by tapping into all of our abundant energy resources. We owe it to future generations to explore the vast amount of oil and gas in the Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), as well as our other vital energy resources including Hydroelectric Power, Wind Power, Oil Shale, Natural Gas, Gas Hydrates, Hydrogen, BioFuels, Solar Power, Clean Coal and Nuclear Power.

Clip Source: www.wehavethepowermovie.com

[Video]

Tags: energy independence, we have the power movie.com

American Terrrorists, part IVa

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:35:50 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898
clipper's remarks: Iran-Contra scandal and support of the Contra terrorists

Clip Source: www.pbs.org

Reagan's zeal to defeat communism was not limited to direct U.S.-Soviet relations

the CIA was employed to indirectly support the contras militarily. When word surfaced in 1984 that the CIA had mined Nicaraguan harbors, Congress passed the Boland Amendment outlawing further U.S. military assistance to the contras.

He made clear his determination to continue supporting the contras, whom he called "the moral equivalent of our founding fathers," through alternative means.

This decision would eventually lead to a foreign policy embarrassment and a constitutional crisis known as the Iran-Contra affair.

Iran accused of bribing Iraqi politicians

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:38:02 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: The US has used the tactic of bribing foreign politicians over and over again.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The commander of US military forces in Iraq has accused Iran of trying to bribe Iraqi legislators into rejecting a security deal with the US.

Gen Odierno said Iran was using its contacts among Iraqi politicians

Gen Ray Odierno told the Washington Post that many intelligence reports suggested "pay offs" were being made, but that he had no definitive proof.

"We know that there are many relationships with people here for many years going back to when Saddam was in charge, and I think they're utilising those contacts to attempt to influence the outcome of the potential vote in the council of representatives," he said in an interview with the Washington Post.

"We get reports of people coming in to pay off people to vote against it. Whether it's true or not I have no specific proof, but there are many intelligence reports that say that activity is going on."

Iran has denied the accusations and says that US troops in Iraq are the cause of instability there.

Tags: iran, iraq, iranian bribery, us bribery

Jodie Evans: traitor and Obama buddy

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:14:39 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: Via moonbattery.com:

Clip Source: www.moonbattery.com

Jodie Evans, Yet Another Treasonous Friend of Obama

You don't have to dig into Obama's past to find associations with anti-American radicals. Kristinn Taylor reports on his current relationship with Code Pink cofounder Jodie Evans. This one warrants repeating in full:

Jodie Evans, co-founder of the leftist anti-American group Code Pink, has documented ties to governments on the State Department’s list of current and former state sponsors of terrorism including Iran, Cuba, Syria and the former Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein. She also has endorsed and worked with the so-called Iraqi resistance that has killed over three thousand American soldiers and thousands of free Iraqis.

A founding member of the campaign finance team of Democratic presidential nominee Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has been working with state sponsors of terrorism to undermine the United States in the global war on terror since at least February, 2003.

Tags: traitor, code pink, obama, how can anyone support him?

Oil price plunge hurting mullahs: Ahmadinejad suspends tax hike

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:29:53 GMT

clipped by: pkronfield
clipper's remarks: Iranian merchants are revolting. Very funny. I don't mean their offensive odor. I mean they are protesting the harsh economic times with oil prices slashed by 50% and hurting the economy which is geared to producing nukes. Now how about a full blockade on their ports? No more an act of war than Iran providing explosively formed penetrators to their Iraqi stooges that have been killing our boys in harm's way.

Clip Source: www.worldtribune.com

Iran, in a rare concession, has suspended a sales tax in wake of a strike by merchants.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the government to suspend a new tax that sparked unrest in the nation's business community. The three-percent sales tax had been imposed in September 2008 amid the drop in the price of crude oil.

Officials said the Iranian government depends on crude oil exports for 80 percent of the state budget. Taxes comprise the remaining portion of the budget.

Crude oil prices have fallen by nearly 50 percent since July 2008. The drop in prices was said to have fueled a recession in Iran.

"The tax will be suspended for up to three months," an Iranian source said.

Ahmadinejad intervened in the crisis after scores of merchants, led by goldsmiths, shut their businesses in protest of the tax on Oct. 8. The Iranian president has blocked other unpopular economic measures, including gasoline rationing.

Tags: iran needs to be dealt with sooner rather than lat

Hanged for being a Christian in Iran

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:29:10 GMT

clipped by: sunstreak509

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A month ago, the Iranian parliament voted in favour of a draft bill, entitled "Islamic Penal Code", which would codify the death penalty for any male Iranian who leaves his Islamic faith. Women would get life imprisonment. The majority in favour of the new law was overwhelming: 196 votes for, with just seven against.

Imposing the death penalty for changing religion blatantly violates one of the most fundamental of all human rights. The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and in the European Convention of Human Rights. It is even enshrined as Article 23 of Iran's own constitution, which states that no one may be molested simply for his beliefs.

Tags: religious, christianity, iram, islam

Iranian now VP at Wells Fargo

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:54:09 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Loves skiing with her 84 year-old father.

Clip Source: www.payvand.com

Iranian Now V.P. of Firm that Made the Wild West

Wells Fargo is one of the few surviving American businesses from the days of the Wild West when it ran stage coaches and provided banking services for cowboys. The stagecoaches and cowboys are gone, but the banking system remains and one of the vice presidents of the modern firm is now an Iranian-American woman.

Avid Modjtabai is also part of the Board of Directors of Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)

When asked about her most important career influences, Modjtabai gave credit first to her parents. "My parents have been the greatest influence on my career. My father gave me the determination to demand the best from myself. From my mother, I learned compassion and tolerance. Wells Fargo chairman Dick Kovacevich and CEO John Stumpf took chances on me and gave me opportunities to grow professionally."

Marjane Satrapi's popular graphic novel "Persepolis"

had a lot of significance to me, given my Iranian background

Tags: iran

Iranian reformist challenges Ahmadinejad

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:49:05 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: First to declare candidacy for the presidency.

Clip Source: www.payvand.com

A leading Iranian reformist says he will run in next year's presidential elections, challenging President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is widely expected to seek a second term.

Former parliamentary speaker Mehdi Karoubi announced his candidacy for the June 2009 poll at a news conference in Tehran Sunday. He said Mr. Ahmadinejad's administration has failed in its handling of foreign policy and economic issues.

Karoubi also criticized the president for denying the Holocaust. He said Mr. Ahmadinejad's past remarks have cost the country a great deal.

President Ahmadinejad has come under strong criticism from fellow conservatives for his handling of Iran's high inflation and other economic problems. Some of his conservative critics may challenge him for the presidency.

However, Mr. Ahmadinejad has won crucial backing from the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The supreme leader has the final say on all of Iran's affairs

Tags: iran

Georgia closes air space to Russia

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:58:31 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: "If Georgia doesn’t provide an air corridor, Russia will find alternative ways of supplying its military base here," Aghabekian told EurasiaNet. "After all, Russia is bound by an agreement with Armenia that commits it to keeping the base combat-ready and on high alert. Russia will resort to any method to honor that obligation."

Clip Source: www.eurasianet.org

Raising a serious obstacle to Russia’s military presence in Armenia, Georgia appears to have closed its airspace to transport planes making vital shipments to Russian troops stationed in the neighboring South Caucasus state.

"Georgia no longer provides us with air corridors," Colonel Ashot Karapetian, deputy commander of the Russian military base in Armenia, told EurasiaNet. "Our supplies are now being carried out via Azerbaijan and Iran."

Karapetian described those supplies as erratic, saying that Russia secures over-flight permissions from these countries with "great difficulty." "But despite these difficulties, we are getting by and doing everything to continue our service. The government and armed forces of Armenia deserve much of the credit for that," he said, adding that they have helped the Russian base stockpile fuel, food and other materiel.

"These are short-term problems that have no legal basis and cannot be long-lasting," said Artur Aghabekian, a retired army general

Tags: georgia, russia, armenia

Obama and Israel

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:10:50 GMT

clipped by: naturelady
clipper's remarks: In Biden's own words

Clip Source: noquarterusa.net

This is Obama's
Foreign Policy
Go-to Guy?
Great.
Biden says Israel should reconcile
itself to a Nuclear Iran
Israel Insider
Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joseph Biden was quoted by Israel Army Radio Monday as stunning senior Israeli officials behind closed doors with the statement that "Israel will have to reconcile itself with the nuclearization of Iran." MORE...

Tags: obama, israel, iran

WWIII?

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:19:07 GMT

clipped by: JackieDel

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

October 12, 2008

Warning signs of an Israeli strike on Iran

David Owen

David Owen was foreign secretary from 1977 to 1979

Some key decision makers in Israel fear that unless they attack Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities in the next few months, while George W Bush is still president, there will not be another period when they can rely on the United States as being anywhere near as supportive in the aftermath of a unilateral attack.

In the past 40 years there have been few occasions when I have been more concerned about a specific conflict escalating to involve, economically, the whole world. We are watching a disinformation exercise involving a number of intelligence services. Reality is becoming ever harder to disentangle.

Tags: usa, foreign policy, war, israel, iran

Oil & Gas Prices Plunge; Supply Unchanged

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:38:05 GMT

clipped by: blueridge
clipper's remarks: High gas prices were driven by speculators in oil futures, low valuation of dollar, and war fears--NOT BECAUSE OF LIMITED SUPPLY.

Making this point again since GOP propagandists were blaming high gas prices on lack of drilling and our "enemies at OPEC". Baloney! This should bring an end to that pack of lies.

1. This is investor driven, (read the analyst in the clip above).

2. The dollar is now regaining strength, which is used in international oil trade. (But the record $10.2 trillion national debt is made of fake printed money, which is inflationary, and still a huge problem).

3. War fears, which drive speculation also, have subsided as the prospect and drumbeat of war with Iran has diminished (for now). Until Israel foments war again.

These are the three principle causes of high gas prices, now being reversed. Let the "drill" propagandists for supply as the cause now shut their mouths.

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

Oil plunges to 13-month low on global crisis

Investors worry about the impact of a severe international downturn

Gas prices across the United States
The U.S. average price of regular has jumped 73 cents from last year to $3.504 per gallon on Monday, according to AAA.

NEW YORK - The stunning collapse in oil markets accelerated Friday, sending a barrel of crude plunging below $78 as investors grow more pessimistic about resolving a mushrooming global economic crisis.

Oil hasn’t been this cheap in 13 months — a rare silver lining for consumers amid a rapidly imploding financial landscape.

Crude prices have almost been cut in half since surging to a record near $150 barrel over the summer.

Energy experts believe prices could go even lower.

“There’s so much fear out there and that’s really gripping the oil market. People are just afraid to hold a position so they’re closing out and selling off,” said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts.

Tags: oil, gas prices, economy